Management Training/Leadership Certificate & Credential

The State of South Dakota Division of Child Care Services created the South Dakota Leadership Certificate and Credential Programs to provide child care providers the opportunity to develop and enhance their management and leadership skills. They recognize that these skills are necessary to operate a quality and successful child care program. The Leadership Credential is recognized on Level III of the Pathways to Professional Development Career Lattice and NAEYC has approved this credential as part of the Alternative Pathways for their accreditation system.

For more information click on the line of your choice below:

• Who can enroll in the program?
• What training is required to receive a Certificate or Credential?
• What is included in the 20 hours of Management Training?
• When is the next Management Training?
• What are the 10 hours of Self-Directed Approved training?
• How do I apply for the certificate or credential?
• Articles for Managers/Directors/Leaders

Who can enroll in the program?

A child care provider can enter the program by either of two tracks.

1. The first track is for child care providers who are currently employed as a program director or supervisor or have worked at least one year in a state licensed child care or OST program. The child care provider must possess a degree with emphasis in early childhood education or human development child and family studies.
    
2. The second track is for child care providers who share the same experience, but possess a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or an unrelated college degree. Child care providers who are on this track are required to take a Supplemental Training course prior to enrolling in the first college course per current articulation agreements. This course is offered at no charge to providers via Dakota Digital Network (DDN).

What training is required to receive a Certificate or Credential?

The chart below shows the training required for an individual to complete the SD Leadership Certificate and the SD Leadership Credentials:

South Dakota Leadership
Certificate and Credential Programs

TRACK ONE	TRACK TWO
Experience:	Experience:
Currently employed as a program director or supervisor or have worked at least one year in a state licensed child care or OST Program.	Currently employed as a program director or supervisor or have worked at least one year in a state licensed child care or OST Program.
Education:	Education:
Possess a degree with emphasis in early childhood education or human development: child and family studies.	Possess a CDA credential OR Unrelated college degree
Training Opportunities:	Training Opportunities:
1. Management Training (20 Hrs) provided by regional Early Childhood Enrichment Programs.	1. Management Training (20 Hrs) provided by regional Early Childhood Enrichment Programs.
2. Supplemental Training: Waived for individuals who meet Track One degree/education requirements.	2. Supplemental Training (30 Hrs) provided by SD Pathways and may be completed at the same time as the Management Training.
3. SDSU ECE 492/592 Leadership Course: 3 credits. Leadership Certificate is awarded.	3. SDSU ECE 492/592 Leadership Course: 3 credits. Leadership Certificate is awarded.
4. SDSU ECE 455/555 Administration and Supervision course: 3 credits.	4. SDSU ECE 455/555 Administration and Supervision course: 3 credits.
5. Self-Directed approved training (10 Hrs) completed at conferences, etc. Leadership Credential is awarded. Totals: 120 Hrs	5. Self-Directed approved training (10 Hrs) completed at conferences, etc. Leadership Credential is awarded. Totals: 150 Hrs

 

What is included in the 20 hours of Management Training?

The 20 hours of entry level Management Training is offered through Sanford Children’s C.H.I.L.D. Services or other Early Childhood Enrichment Sites. This curriculum meets the Division of Child Care Services, Licensing and Pathways requirements.

The training hours focus on four areas:

• Managing Programs
• Cost of Quality in Programs
• Staff Considerations
• Policies and Procedures and Partnerships

Two college courses SDSU ECE 492/592 Leadership Course and SDSU ECE 455/555 Administration and Supervision are required as a part of the Leadership Credential. This means an individual who has completed the SD Leadership Credential will receive 6 college credits. These courses, like the Supplemental training are offered via Dakota Digital Network (DDN) to ensure easy accessibility.

When is the next Management Training?

Management Training Classes are held quarterly. To find out when the next Management Training classes are being held refer to the most recent copy of the Region 5 Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) Newsletter.

What are the 10 hours of Self-Directed Approved training?

As a portion of the Leadership Credential training, each individual is required to attend 10 hours of approved self-directed training. These 10 hours were built into the credential program to allow a child care provider to focus more intensely on Leadership and Management based topics of interest, or areas that need to be improved.

The following guidelines have been set up to help Leadership Credential participants decide what types of training are included under this area.

• The training must be focused on Management and/or Leadership topics and be recognized under the 15 Pathways to Professional Development Training Areas. This would include, but is not limited to training on leadership, legal issues, technology, recruitment and retention strategies, supervision of staff, budgeting and fiscal procedures, administrative tools (e.g. handbooks, policies and procedures), quality improvement plans, development of program-wide evaluation systems, marketing and public relations as well as goal setting.
   
• Hours obtained from sessions with motivational speakers are not eligible towards these hours. • The training hours must relate to the child care provider’s current or future leadership responsibilities within a program.
   
• The training does not need to occur in one 10 hour block. It can be composed of a variety of different training topics adding up to a minimum of 10 hours overall.
   
• Training can be received from professional conferences, business organizations, Early Childhood Enrichment staff, colleges and technical schools.

How do I apply for the certificate or credential?

Once a student has completed all the requirements for either the SD Leadership Certificate or Credential, they will need to:

1. Complete an Application for Completion of the South Dakota Leadership Certificate and Credential Form. 
2. Attach all required verifications of training hours.

For information on the South Dakota Leadership Certificate and Credential Program,
contact us at (605) 333-0698 or email childsrv@sanfordhealth.org.

7/31/2008